“Tinubu Sets the Stage for Credible Census: Unveils Committee to Review Budget and Timeline”

By George Ozalla

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a high-level committee to oversee the upcoming national Population and Housing Census, emphasizing the critical role of accurate population data in national development. The committee, chaired by Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, is tasked with ensuring the census is timely, credible, and aligned with the country’s financial realities.

The committee’s objectives include reviewing the census budget, proposing funding sources, and recommending a viable census date while ensuring coordination among relevant institutions. The President stressed the importance of collaboration among all relevant agencies and stakeholders, highlighting the need for accurate data to inform policy formulation, resource distribution, and decision-making across various sectors.

Minister of Information, Alhaji Muhammed Idris Malagi, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that credible data is critical for planning across all sectors. The National Population Commission (NPC) Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, assured Nigerians that the Commission remains committed to ensuring a credible, technology-driven enumeration that will support effective national planning and development.

The eight-member committee includes notable figures such as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji; Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote; Principal Private Secretary to the President, Hakeem Muri Okunola; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Operations (Office of the Chief of Staff), Mrs. Nathan-Marsh.

The committee is expected to submit an interim report within three weeks, outlining its findings and recommendations for the census timeline and funding readiness. The National Population Commission (NPC) has already begun preparations for the census, with a focus on identifying key requirements and laying the groundwork necessary for the President to make an informed decision on the conduct of the census.

The inauguration follows President Tinubu’s directive to establish a committee to review the census budget and align it with the government’s current financial realities, which was discussed during his meeting with NPC Officials on February 24, 2025.

This development marks a significant step towards conducting a credible and effective national Population and Housing Census, which will provide valuable data for national development and planning.